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Research Funding
Explore internal, university-wide, and external sources of research support.
Columbia Engineering and its research centers and initiatives offer numerous funding opportunities for researchers.
Unless otherwise noted, Internal Research Award and Fellowship opportunities are listed on InfoReady, Columbia Engineering’s internal proposal management system. Please visit InfoReady for up-to-date information about each call’s deadlines and specific requirements.
Calls for Research and Fellowship proposals are typically open for 4-5 weeks. Unless otherwise noted, awards are for one academic year (July 1 through June 30).
Questions? Contact the Office for Research at [email protected].
Research Award Opportunities
These opportunities are open to any Columbia Engineering faculty member who is eligible to serve as a Principal Investigator according to University PI guidelines.
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SEAS Interdisciplinary Research (SIRS) and SEAS Translational Acceleration Research (STAR) Seed Funding Program
- Topics: Open call, with additional special interest tracks in Engineering and Health, and Innovations in FinTech, Engineering, and Business Operations
- Funding level: Up to $85,000 per award
- Call Released: Annually in Early Spring
- Where to Apply: InfoReady
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Columbia-Dream Sports AI Innovation Center - Research Awards
- Topics: data-driven decision making and algorithmic optimization; sports analytics and performance optimization
- Funding level: Up to $100,000 in direct costs per award
- Call Released: Annually in January
- Where to Apply: InfoReady
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Center for AI and Responsible Financial Innovation (CAIRFI) - Research Awards
- Topics: AI technology applied to financial products and services
- Funding Level: Up to $110,000 in total costs per award
- Key Dates: Call released December 1, 2025; Abstract due December 18, 2025; projects start February 2026
- Where to Apply: InfoReady
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Center for Digital Finance and Technologies - Research Awards
- Topics: Decentralized finance, blockchain and smart contract technology, and more
- Funding level: Approximately $25,000 per award
- Call Released: Annually in January
- Where to Apply: InfoReady
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Qiu Zhong Wei Research Projects
- Topics: Sustainable materials, advanced materials for energy storage, sustainable mining
- Funding level: Up to $145,000 per award
- Call Released: Annually in Early Spring
- Where to Apply: InfoReady
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Center for AI Technologies (CAIT) - Research Awards
- Topics: AI technology including generative AI, foundation models, and more
- Funding level: Up to $100,000 in direct costs per award
- Call Released: Annually in Early Spring
- Where to Apply: InfoReady
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Google Cyber NYC Institutional Research Program
- Topics: Secure and trusted AI and computing; technical and social aspects of cybersecurity
- Funding Level: Up to $80,000 in total costs per award, with up to $20,000 in Google Cloud Credit for eligible projects
- Call Released: Annually in Spring
- Where to Apply: Application link distributed at call release
Fellowship Opportunities
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Center for AI Technologies (CAIT) PhD Fellowships
- Topics: AI technology including generative AI, foundation models, and more
- Funding Level: Tuition and stipend, up to two semesters
- Call Released: Annually in Spring
- Where to Apply: InfoReady
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Center for AI and Responsible Financial Innovation (CAIRFI) PhD Fellowships
- Topics: AI technology applied to financial products and services
- Funding Level: Tuition and stipend, up to two years
- Call Released: Annually in Spring
- Where to Apply: InfoReady
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Columbia-Dream Sports AI Innovation Center PhD Fellowships
- Topics: data-driven decision making and algorithmic optimization; sports analytics and performance optimization
- Funding Level: Tuition and stipend for one year, renewable for a second year
- Call Released: Annually in Spring
- Where to Apply: InfoReady
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Avanessians Doctoral Fellowship in Data Science
- Topics: Any topic focusing on or intersecting with data science
- Funding Level: Tuition and stipend, up to two semesters
- Call Released: Annually in Spring
- Where to Apply: InfoReady
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Columbia-Ethereum Center for Blockchain Protocol Design - Spring 2026 Fellowship Nomination
- Topics: Design, implementation, or understanding of blockchain infrastructure
- Funding Level: Tuition, Stipend, & Fees for Spring 2026 semester
- Due date: December 5, 2025
- Where to Apply: InfoReady
University-Wide Funding Resources
The university-wide office for research support, Columbia Research, maintains a funding page with links to numerous funding sources within the university and beyond, including government agencies and foundations.